Bonn Government Rejects El Al Plan

August 23, 1974

TEL AVIV (Aug. 22)

A German Embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv has confirmed reports that the Bonn government turned down an E1 A1 plan to operate a flight from West Germany directly to the Jerusalem airport at Atarot (Kalandia). The German decision, only two weeks before the scheduled inaugural flight to Jerusalem was based on political reasons.

Bonn adhered, it was claimed, to the United Nations’ decision that there would be no change in the attitude towards the administered territories. The Jerusalem airport is in administered territory and was not included in the Israeli-West German aviation agreement.

Atarot Airport had been enlarged to handle jet planes in anticipation of the scheduled flights of German pilgrims to Israel. E1 A1 made tests and found the airport adequate for use by international airlines.